The Best Wines for Sangria
- Aug 24, 2018
It’s August: The weather is hot, the days are long, and balmy sunset evenings create the ideal backdrop for a refreshing patio drink. Sangria is a great August option that adds a sweet, fruity touch to your wine, and it's great for sharing.
So, how did this delicious drink come to be?
The origins of sangria began in Spain around the 15th century, when locals made it as a 'wine punch' that consisted of red La Rioja wine, brandy and local fruits such as oranges, lemons, apples, and pears.
Most believe that the beverage's name comes from comes from the Spanish word for blood: sangre, which reflects the deep red colour of the drink—though nowadays you will find a bounty of variations and colours for sangria, ranging from red to white and beyond. Enjoyed internationally, experts are quick to point out that only Spain or Portugal can lay claim to true sangria, with The European Parliament recently passing legislation for stricter geographic labelling rules.
Rules aside, this drink is easy to make and can be created in a variety of ways, with a diversity of wines. For instance, if you are a fan of classic red Sangria, we recommend staying away from wines with big tannins, savoury notes or high acidities, such as Cabernet Franc and Carménère. Instead, try a wine like Merlot which has lower tannins and offers flavours of rich red fruit. Other reds that may also work would be Primivito, Shiraz and Zinfandel. These wines have jammy flavours and often have spice and floral notes—perfect for flavourful Sangria! Here are a few bottles that we recommend for the classic: Curious Incident Merlot, Fourmi Rouge Ventoux Red Blend, Vina Vasta Red Blend, Belle Grove Shiraz.
Don’t worry white Sangria fans, we didn’t forget about you. When choosing a base wine for the white version of this summer sipper, avoid wines that are oaked or have grassy flavours such as a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Instead, we’d recommend a white wine with refreshing tropical flavours, found in varietals such as Vinho Verde, Pinot Gris or Viognier. A few wines we’d recommend include Espiral Vinho Verde, Lunaris Pinot Grigio, or Aeros Viognier.
Here are a few bonus tips when making your summertime cocktail:
Do you have a favourite sangria recipe or a favourite wine to use for sangria? Let us know in the comments below!
So, how did this delicious drink come to be?
The origins of sangria began in Spain around the 15th century, when locals made it as a 'wine punch' that consisted of red La Rioja wine, brandy and local fruits such as oranges, lemons, apples, and pears.
Most believe that the beverage's name comes from comes from the Spanish word for blood: sangre, which reflects the deep red colour of the drink—though nowadays you will find a bounty of variations and colours for sangria, ranging from red to white and beyond. Enjoyed internationally, experts are quick to point out that only Spain or Portugal can lay claim to true sangria, with The European Parliament recently passing legislation for stricter geographic labelling rules.
Rules aside, this drink is easy to make and can be created in a variety of ways, with a diversity of wines. For instance, if you are a fan of classic red Sangria, we recommend staying away from wines with big tannins, savoury notes or high acidities, such as Cabernet Franc and Carménère. Instead, try a wine like Merlot which has lower tannins and offers flavours of rich red fruit. Other reds that may also work would be Primivito, Shiraz and Zinfandel. These wines have jammy flavours and often have spice and floral notes—perfect for flavourful Sangria! Here are a few bottles that we recommend for the classic: Curious Incident Merlot, Fourmi Rouge Ventoux Red Blend, Vina Vasta Red Blend, Belle Grove Shiraz.
Don’t worry white Sangria fans, we didn’t forget about you. When choosing a base wine for the white version of this summer sipper, avoid wines that are oaked or have grassy flavours such as a Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc. Instead, we’d recommend a white wine with refreshing tropical flavours, found in varietals such as Vinho Verde, Pinot Gris or Viognier. A few wines we’d recommend include Espiral Vinho Verde, Lunaris Pinot Grigio, or Aeros Viognier.
Here are a few bonus tips when making your summertime cocktail:
- A great Sangria can be made from wine at a variety of price points, but most people like to use everyday drinking wines for this beverage—you will be adding fruit and other ingredients to it after all.
- Make it a day ahead so the fruit and flavours of wines can integrate.
- Savour, share and enjoy responsibly.
Do you have a favourite sangria recipe or a favourite wine to use for sangria? Let us know in the comments below!